2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV vs 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

$40,445 · Crossover

$48,290 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV blasts off with an accessible starting price of $40,445, immediately making electric driving more attainable. It boasts a competitive 38 miles of all-electric range, perfect for daily zero-emission sprints, although its 248 hp is slightly eclipsed by the 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV's 261 hp. The Sorento counters with superior blended efficiency, achieving 33 combined MPG compared to the Outlander's 26 combined MPG, leveraging a refined 6-speed transmission against the Mitsubishi's 1-speed direct drive. While the Outlander is physically smaller at 185.4 inches long, the Sorento delivers marginally better range efficiency despite its $7,845 higher MSRP. Both offer AWD, but the Kia’s extra 13 horsepower and superior fuel economy highlight its focus on overall efficiency, whereas the Mitsubishi prioritizes upfront affordability and slightly longer EV distance.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

The Outlander PHEV wins for commuters due to its impressive 38 miles of electric range, potentially minimizing daily fuel stops.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

The Sorento PHEV offers slightly better overall combined MPG at 33 versus 26, resulting in lower running costs for family travel.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

The Sorento PHEV provides marginally higher performance with 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

The Outlander PHEV offers significant savings upfront with an MSRP of $40,445, which is $7,845 less than the competitor.

Choose the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV if...

Your budget is the primary concern, given the $40,445 starting MSRP.
You prioritize maximizing the initial all-electric driving capability with 38 miles of range.
You prefer a slightly more compact footprint at 185.4 inches in length for urban parking.

Choose the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid if...

You seek superior long-term efficiency, delivering 33 combined MPG.
You desire a slight edge in power with 261 horsepower.
You prefer the feel of a traditional 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission over a direct drive system.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV	Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid
Length	185.4"	189.6"
Width	84.4"	74.8"
Height	68.5"	66.9"
Wheelbase	106.5"	110.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Headlight Washers	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	—	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	—	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Base Engine Displacement	2.4 L	1.6 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	plug-in hybrid	plug-in hybrid
Horsepower	248 hp	261 hp
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Torque	—	258 lb-ft

Drive Train

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Transmission Type	1-speed direct drive	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	all wheel drive
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	25/27 MPG	33/34 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	26 MPG	33 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	370.0/399.6 mi.	409.2/421.6 mi.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	67/61 MPGe	77/71 MPGe
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	64 MPGe	74 MPGe
EPA Electric Driving Range	38 mi.	30 mi.
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	52	45
Charging Time (240V)	6.5 hr.	3.4 hr.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.8 gal.	12.4 gal.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	CHAdeMO	SAE J1772

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	—
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	—
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Rear Door Pockets	—	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
One-Touch Power Windows	1	1
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Front Head Room	40.6 in.	40.3 in.
Front Leg Room	41.7 in.	41.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.9 in.	59.1 in.
Front Hip Room	54.0 in.	55.6 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Rear Head Room	39.1 in.	39.1 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.1 in.	40.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.9 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.3 in.	55.1 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
One-Piece Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	18 x 7.0 in	19 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P235/60R18	235/55R19
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Spare Tire Type	—	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	—	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Mitsubishi	Kia
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Hybrid Component Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	7 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 30000 mi.	—
EV Battery Warranty	—	10 yr./ 100000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

What is the main trade-off when choosing between the 38-mile EV range of the Outlander and the Sorento's efficiency?

The Outlander PHEV (car1) gives you 38 miles of electric driving versus the Sorento's 30 miles, offering more pure EV commuting potential. However, the Sorento compensates by achieving a higher overall fuel economy rating of 33 combined MPG compared to the Outlander’s 26 combined MPG.

How significant is the performance gap between the two plug-in crossovers?

The 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV (car2) holds a slight edge with 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, surpassing the Outlander PHEV's 248 horsepower. This translates to quicker acceleration, though the Outlander uses a simpler 1-speed direct drive transmission.

Considering the purchase price, how long would it take for the Sorento’s MPG advantage to offset the cost difference?

The Sorento PHEV costs $7,845 more than the Outlander PHEV. While the Sorento’s 7 MPG advantage in fuel efficiency will save money over time, it requires substantial mileage accumulation to recoup that initial higher investment.

Which vehicle offers more space for cargo inside the cabin?

Both vehicles have very similar cargo figures, but the 2025 Outlander PHEV technically provides slightly more room with 12.8 cubic feet compared to the Sorento's 12.6 cubic feet. However, the Sorento is longer overall at 189.6 inches.

Are the transmissions fundamentally different between these two AWD crossovers?

Yes, the driving dynamics will vary significantly; the Outlander PHEV utilizes a straightforward 1-speed direct drive for electric operation, whereas the Sorento PHEV employs a more conventional 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission for better control over its combustion engine.

Both cars use regular unleaded fuel; is one more fuel-conscious when running on gas?

The Sorento PHEV demonstrates clear superiority when operating as a traditional hybrid, rating at 33/34 MPG city/highway. The Outlander PHEV scores 25/27 MPG city/highway, confirming the Sorento's better fuel efficiency across non-EV operation.